Philippine sports traditions

Last week we started to discuss sports traditions as one of the factors for Olympic success as stated by Zaki Laidi in his column (World View) entitled, “Olympolitik” which was featured in a broadsheet exactly a month ago. The other factors Laidi mentioned were: population size, sports policy and level of development.

We stated that traditions are created over time and their continued existence requires dedication and an unrelenting attitude to carry on because they are integral parts of one’s core values and mission in life.

The strength, life and viability of a tradition depends on the ability and willingness of those who establish the tradition to nurture and pass on these practices to succeeding generations who, if they are to carry on, must be convinced of the importance of these traditions. In that way, these traditions withstand the test of time and the changing environment and world order.

We stated in last week’s column the tradition in excellence in amateur boxing created by Nicanor Reyes Jr, whose father, Nicanor Sr, was co-founder of the Far Eastern University (FEU). Nicanor Sr established the FEU together with other educators when the Far Eastern College and the Institute of Accounts, Business and Finance merged. Nicanor Jr, who married Josephine Cojuangco, elder sister of President Corazon C. Aquino, carried on the work started by his father (Nicanor Sr) and went even further to engage in corporate social responsibility or CSR in sports (long before CSR became an urgent concern all over the world) by establishing the FEU boxing squad.

FEU’s outstanding tradition in and contribution to amateur boxing culminated in the silver medal won in a highly controversial contest for the gold medal by Anthony Villanueva, then a 19-year old student of FEU and member of the FEU Tamaraw’s boxing squad, in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.

Villanueva had, as his trainer, his own father, Jose (Cely), who himself was a bronze medalist in the bantamweight division in the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics. The Filipinos won three bronze medals in Los Angeles through Villanueva and Simeon Toribio in the men’s high jump (track and field) and Teofilo Yldefonso in the men’s 200-meter breaststroke (swimming). The Fortaleza brothers, also of the FEU boxing team contributed a couple of medals in Asian games boxing.

The Yulo family of Canlubang, Laguna, created the Canlubang Sugar Barons that became a powerhouse in Philippine baseball. The sport would have died faster were not for the Sugar Barons who were born out of the Yulos sugar empire. The Sugar Barons faded from the scene as prices of sugar plummeted all over the world and as the Yulos divested from the sugar industry to respond to the needs of property development and industry through the creation of various industrial zones.

 The towns of Barotac Nuevo and Barotac Viejo in the province of Iloilo were and, to a certain extent, continue to be hotbeds of soccer. They continue to enliven the sport in the country even as globalization has triggered the emergence of Europeans with Philippine ancestry joining the Azkals to reignite Philippine interest in the sport and new prominence in Southeast Asian football. The most natural step is to become a force to reckon with in Asian football which will take tremendous effort with the presence of Japan, Korea, China and countries in the Middle East.

The tradition of Pangasinan being a stronghold of professional cyclists stems the exploits of Jesus Garcia Jr, Mamerto Eden, Gonzalo Recodos, to name a few, who come from the cycling-crazy province. In fact, one town in Pangasinan, Mangaldan, became synonymous with cycling particularly the annual Tour of Luzon which was then the premiere summer sports event in the late 50’s, 60’s and part of the ‘70’s.

Cebu has established itself as a traditional source of professional boxing talents, the foremost of whom is Gabriel Flash Elorde. Cebuano-speaking Visayans and Mindaoeños like Rene Barrientos and, of course, Manny Pacquiao and Nonito Donaire, further strengthen the reputation of Cebu and Cebu-speaking areas as the breeding grounds for future world title holders. The presence of sportsman and philanthropist Tony Aldeguer in professional boxing, an advocacy he has passed on to his son, Michael, through ALA Promotions, will ensure the continued development of Philippine professional boxing.

With respect to sports policy as a force in Olympic success, a most recent example of how it has affected the performance in the 2012 London Olympics of Australian swimming, once in the highest echelons of the sport, should be a matter for close study. The situation deserves some analysis if we are to learn anything from how sports policy impacts on performance. This is, as we will find out next week, an example of how an existing sports policy did not work out well – but at least there was a policy to begin with.